William t



(No Model.)

W. T. W-BHE. STOPPER FULLER.

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NITED STATES ATE'NT Fries.

WILLIAM T. WEI-IE, OF MIDDLEPORT, OHIO ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO OURTIS B. SMITH, OF SAME PLACE.

STOPPER-PU LLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 592,849, dated November 2, 1897.

Application filed May 3, 1897.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM T. WEHE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Middleport, Meigs county, State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improved Stopper-Puller; and I do declare the following to be a clear, full, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, attention being called to the accompanying drawings, with the referencenumerals markedthereon, which form a part of this specification. 1

This invention relates to a tool or implement used for the purpose of extracting stoppers from bottles.

It is particularly intended for such stoppers which are provided with loop or wire staples projecting from their tops to facilitate their removal without mutilation, so as to permit them to be reused. This class of stoppers is usually made of rubber and mostly used in connection with beer and mineral-water botties. The device most commonly used now for such purpose consists, substantially, of a short lever-tool with a pointed end, which is inserted into the staple of the stopper, and, resting on the edge of the bottle-mouth, the stopper is lifted out by depressing the outer end of the tool. The objection to this procedure is that the pressure of the tool against the edge of the bottle-mouthfrequently causes the glass to crack or pieces to break out, rendering in many cases the bottle useless or unsafe to handle on account of the liability of injury to the hands.

The primary object of my invention is therefore to provide a tool which may be used without liability of injury and its consequences to the bottle; and with such object in view my invention consists of an implement constructed in a manner which prevents all contact of it with the bottle, rendering there.- by the operation of withdrawing the stopper perfectly safe, and which is also convenient in application and use and simple and cheap as to manufacture.

In the following specification, and particularly pointed out in the claims, is found a full description of the invention, its manner of use, parts, and construction, which latter is Serial No. 634,861. (No model.)

also illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l' is a side elevation, partly in section, with the device shown in operative position. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, parts being in a position they assume during a later stage of the manipulation. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the device at rest and with some parts slightly modified, particularly as to its mode of attachment; and Fig. 4 is a top view of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a sectional view at reduced scale, showing a modified connection of the device.

6 is a bent lever provided with a handle 7 and a pointed end 8, suitably shaped and curved, so as to permit ready insertion into staple 9 of a stopper 10. This lever is supported on a pivot 11, which pivot, however, is not located in a fixed position, but carried at the lower end of a link 12, the upper end of which is loosely connected to a standard 13, so as to have a swinging motion thereon.

The standard is fixedly secured in any suitable manner. In this case it projects upwardly from a base 14, which latter is affixed in a position and place best suited for the use and requirements of the tool. In most cases this place is the top 15 of a counter, bar, or sideboard. Base 1 1 is centrally perforated, as shown, to permit the pointed end of lever 6 to reach the staple for insertion thereinto when the bottle with the stopper is placed against the under side of said base, as shown. Said perforation is limited in size to prevent the neck of the bottle from entering, so that the edge around the mouth of the neck while resting against the under side of said base forms the necessary resistance against the pull on the stopper from the upper side.

The manipulation is obvious and very simple. The bottle is held with one hand against the under side of the base of the device, as shown in Fig. 1, while with the other the pointed end of lever 6 is brought down to the staple,into which it is inserted,after which the outer end is depressed and the stopper lifted out. Next the lever swinging on link 12 is cause its pointed end to pass by the lower part of the standard,which causes the stopper to be stripped off therefrom, after which it drops moved outwardly, as shown in Fig. 2, so as to through the opening in the base and may be received by a suitable receptacle below. To facilitate entrance of the stopper through said hole, part of base 1i around it is raised to form a funnel-shaped hopper 16, which part may be an addition, as shown in Fig. 1, or integrally formed, as shown in Fig. 3. Stoppers do not always occupy exactly the same position within the mouth of the bottle, some being pressed in deeper than others and this variation affects naturally also the position of the staple with reference to the base of the device when the bottle is in position. To permit the pointed end of lever 6 to reach the staple under all such variations, its position with reference to its pivot 11, which supports it, is not a fixed one, but capable of some adjustment sufficient for the purpose. This adjustment is obtained by a slot 17, which receives pivot 11 and permits lever 6 to have an independent sliding movement up and down on its pivot, enabling the pointed end to readily reach the staple.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the device is attached to the upper surface of a counter-top, which requires also that said top be perforated in order to admit the neck of the bottle from the under side.

In Figs. 3 and 4 the device is secured in a manner to cause base 1i to project beyond the top of the counter, thereby obviating perforation of the same. For such purpose base 14 is extended on one side to form a flange 18, by which it is secured either to the upper or under surface or the counter-top. As shown in the figures mentioned, it is secured to the under surface.

To obviate any possible injury to the upper edge of the bottle, Washers 19, of soft metal, leather, or rubber, are provided on the under side of base 1t, where the bottle comes in contact with the same. As shownin Fig. 1, said washer is held in position between the countertop and the under side of base 14. As shown in Fig. 3, this washer is held within a cupshaped downward extension 20, depending from the under side of base 14:.

From a mechanical standpoint it is preferable to support lever 6 between two links 12 of equal length and again to support said links between two standards 13. In the practical construction I form these partsthat is, links 12 and standard 13of one piece, bent as shown.

The implement may also be used to detach wires used to secure stoppers which close bottles containing effervescent liquids and beverages.

In Fig. 5 the flange 18 forms a part of an independent plate 21, which has a perforation and to which the device is secured. The advantage attained thereby is that the device may be adjusted by rotation to bring handle 7 in the most suitable position. held in place by a nut 22, screwed on the depending part 20, which is threaded on its outside.

Having described my invention, I claim as new 1. In a stopper-puller, the combination of a perforated base 1*, standard 13, link 12 loosely depending therefrom, an extractinglever (3 shaped as shown and supported on the lower end of said link and having its outwardly-extending portion formed into an opcrating-handle.

2. In a stopper-puller, the combination of a perforated base, a lever 6, shaped as shown, a support for the pivot of said lever and a slot in the lever which receives the pivot.

3. In a stopper-puller, the combination of a perforated basel l, standard 13, link 12 supported thereon, a lever 6 shaped as shown, a pivot for the lever supported in the free end of link 12 and a slot in the lever which receives said pivot.

4. In a stopper-puller, the combination of the perforated base 14, a lever 13 supported above it and a flanged plate 21 also perforated and to which base letis connected with the perforations of the two registering, the connection being such as to permit a rotary adj ustment of base 14 on plate 21.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

\VILLIAM T. \VEIIE.

IVitnesses:

CURTIS B. SMITH, J OHN I DOWNING.

It may be 

